Civic Report No. 38 June 2003 Vouchers for Special Education Students: An Evaluation of Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program Appendix B: Survey for currently participating/Formerly participating parents—Florida Samptype: 1. Current participants 2. Former participants Qquota: 1. Current participants 2. Former participants Introduction: Good morning/afternoon/evening, I’m calling on behalf of the Florida Department of Education. We are conducting a survey of families participating in the McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. You may have received a letter from the Florida Department of Education about the study. Could I please speak to the mother or female guardian of [NAME]? IF NO FEMALE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, ASK TO SPEAK WITH THE MALE PARENT OR GUARDIAN S.1. Is [NAME] currently participating in the McKay Scholarship Program? 1. Yes(SKIP TO Q.1)—COUNT AS CURRENT PARTICIPANT 2. No (CONTINUE)—COUNT AS FORMER PARTICIPANT 3. (DO NOT READ) Never attended a McKay school (TERMINATE) & DK (Ask to speak with someone who would know) - Ref  (Ask to speak with someone who would know) S2. Does (NAME) currently attend (READ LIST)? (Record One Code) 1. Public school 2. Catholic school 3. Other religious private school 4. Other non-religious private school 5. Child is home schooled 1. First, I’d like to ask you about what you experienced when [NAME] was enrolled in public school, before [he/she] participated in the McKay Scholarship Program. For each of the following items, please tell me how satisfied you were. Would you say you were very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with (ITEM) while [NAME] was in public school? 4 Very satisfied 3 Somewhat satisfied 2 Somewhat dissatisfied 1 Very dissatisfied & DK - Ref a. Individual attention given to [NAME] b. Quality of services addressing [NAME]’s disability c. The academic progress [NAME] was making d. Class size e. Quality of the school’s facilities & equipment f. Quality of [NAME]’s teachers g. Communication with school staff h. Process for developing [NAME]’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) i. The school’s responsiveness to your needs 2. Did you ever come into conflict with the school over [NAME]’s IEP? 1. Yes 2. No (Skip to Q.4) & DK (Skip to Q.4) - REF (Skip to Q.4) 3. How serious was this conflict? Would you say it was (READ LIST)? 4 Very serious 3. Somewhat serious 2. Not too serious 1. Not at all serious & DK - REF 4. When [NAME] was last in that school, about how many students were in the class [he/she] spent the most time in? (ASK FOR BEST GUESS OR ESTIMATE IF DK) Record # 1-50 5. About how many other students in that class had disabilities? (ASK FOR BEST GUESS OR ESTIMATE IF DK) Record # (Total should not exceed response in Q.4)  ALLOW DK [IF RESPONSE = DK, VERIFY ONE MORE TIME FOR BEST GUESS] 6. Did [NAME] have behavior problems at that school? 1. Yes 2. No  (Skip to Q.8) & DK (Skip to Q.8) - Ref (Skip to Q.8) 7. How serious were these problems? Would you say they were (READ LIST)? 4 Very serious 3. Somewhat serious 2. Not too serious 1. Not at all serious & DK - Ref 8. Did you feel that the school provided all the services it was required to provide? 1. Yes (Skip to Q.10) 2. No & DK (Skip to Q.10) - Ref (Skip to Q.10) 9. How serious was this shortfall in services? Would you say it was (READ LIST)? 4 Very serious 3. Somewhat serious 2. Not too serious 1. Not at all serious & DK - Ref 10. Was transporting [NAME] to this school burdensome? 1. Yes 2. No  (Skip to Q.12) & DK (Skip to Q.12) - Ref (Skip to Q.12) 11. How much of a burden was it? Would you say it was (READ LIST)? 4 Very burdensome 3. Somewhat Burdensome 2. Not too burdensome 1. Not at all burdensome & DK - Ref 12. How often was [NAME] bothered by other students at that school because of [his/her] disability?  Would you say (READ LIST)? 4. Very often 3. Often 2. Sometimes 1 Never & DK - Ref 13. Was [NAME] ever physically assaulted by other students at that school because of [his/her] disability? 1. Yes 2. No & DK - Ref 13b. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the least satisfied and 10 is the most satisfied, how would you rate your overall satisfaction with that school? Rating __ 14. What was the most important reason you decided to participate in the McKay Scholarship Program? 01 = Ability to attend private school 02 = Dissatisfied with prior public school 03 = Child not truly disabled 04 = Wanted more individual attention 05 = Problems with other students at other school 06 = Wanted smaller classes 07 = Wanted religious school 08 = Wanted improved morals/values instruction 09 = Private school specialized in child’s disability 10 = Wanted better discipline 11 = Wanted more academic progress (general) 12 = Wanted more academic progress (inappropriate grouping of students) 13 = Wanted more academic progress (student not challenged) 14 = Problems with teachers/administrator at prior public school 95 = None 97 = Misc. other 98 = Don’t know 99 = Refused 15. What was the reaction of the school [NAME] was in when you expressed interest in placing [him/her] in a different school through the McKay Scholarship Program? (READ LIST) 1. Yes 2. No & DK - Ref a. Did they support your decision to use the McKay Program? b. Did they try to persuade you not to use the McKay Program? c. Did they try to obstruct you from using the McKay Program? 16. Next I’d like to ask you about what (you’ve/you) experienced while participating in the McKay Scholarship Program. How difficult was it for you to find an acceptable school for [NAME] under the McKay Scholarship Program?  Would you say it was (READ LIST)? 4. Very difficult 3. Somewhat difficult 2. Not too difficult 1. Not at all difficult & DK - Ref 17. (Are you paying/Did you pay) any tuition or fees ABOVE what is covered by the McKay scholarship? 1. Yes 2. No (Skip to Q.19) & DK (Skip to Q.19) - Ref (Skip to Q.19) 18. About how much (are/were) you paying per year ABOVE what is covered by the McKay scholarship? (ASK FOR BEST GUESS OR ESTIMATE IF DK) Record $___________ 1-30K 19. Please tell me whether you (are/were) very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with (ITEM) at the McKay school. 4 Very satisfied 3 Somewhat satisfied 2 Somewhat dissatisfied 1 Very dissatisfied & DK - Ref a. Individual attention given to [NAME] b. Quality of services addressing [NAME]’s disability c. The academic progress [NAME] is/was making d. Class size e. Quality of the school’s facilities & equipment f. Quality of [NAME]’s teachers g. Communication with school staff h. The school’s responsiveness to your needs 20. (Does/Did) [NAME] have an IEP at [his/her] McKay school? 1. Yes 2. No  (SKIP TO Q.23) & DK (Skip to Q.25) - Ref (Skip to Q.25) 21. Did you ever come into conflict with the school over [NAME]’s IEP? 1 Yes 2. No (Skip to Q.25) & DK (Skip to Q.25) - Ref (Skip to Q.25) 22. How serious was this conflict? Would you say it was (READ LIST)? 4. Very serious (Skip to Q.25) 3. Somewhat Serious  (Skip to Q.25) 2 Not too serious  (Skip to Q.25) 1. Not at all serious  (Skip to Q.25) & DK (Skip to Q.25) - Ref (Skip to Q.25) 23. (Has it been /Was it ever) a problem for you that [NAME] does not have an IEP? 1. Yes 2. No  (Skip to. Q.25) & DK (Skip to Q.25) - Ref (Skip to Q.25) 24. How serious a problem is this? Would you say it is (READ LIST)? 4. Very serious 3. Somewhat Serious 2 Not too serious 1. Not at all serious & DK - Ref 25. About how many students (are/were) in the class [NAME] (spends/spent) the most time in? (ASK FOR BEST GUESS OR ESTIMATE IF DK) Record #   1-50 26. About how many other students in that class (have/had) disabilities? (ASK FOR BEST GUESS OR ESTIMATE IF DK) Record #   Total should not exceed response in Q.25 ALLOW DK [IF RESPONSE = DK, VERIFY ONE MORE TIME FOR BEST GUESS] 27. (Does/Did) [NAME] have behavior problems at the McKay school? 1. Yes 2. No  (Skip to Q.29) & DK (Skip to Q.29) - Ref (Skip to Q.29) 28. How serious (are/were) these problems? Would you say they are (READ LIST)? 4. Very serious 3. Somewhat Serious 2 Not too serious 1. Not at all serious & DK - Ref 29. Do you feel that the school (has/) provided all the services that it promised? 1. Yes (Skip to Q.31) 2. No & DK (Skip to Q.31) - Ref (Skip to Q.31) 30. How serious (is/was) this shortfall in services? Would you say it (is/was) (READ LIST)? 4. Very serious 3. Somewhat Serious 2 Not too serious 1. Not at all serious & DK - Ref 31. (Is/Was) transporting [NAME] to the McKay school burdensome? 1. Yes 2. No  (Skip to Q.33) & DK (Skip to Q.33) - Ref (Skip to Q.33) 32. How much of a burden (is/was) it? Would you say it was (READ LIST)? 4 Very burdensome 3. Somewhat Burdensome 2. Not too burdensome 1. Not at all burdensome & DK - Ref 33. How often (is/was) [NAME] bothered by other students at the McKay school because of [his/her] disability? Would you say (READ LIST)? 4. Very often 3. Often 2. Sometimes 1 Never & DK - Ref 34. Was [NAME] ever physically assaulted by other students at the McKay school because of [his/her] disability? 1. Yes 2. No & DK - Ref 35. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the least satisfied and 10 is the most satisfied, how would you rate your overall satisfaction with the McKay school [NAME] is attending now? Rating __ (IF S.1 = 1 ASK Q36, ELSE SKIP TO Q37) 36. How likely is it that you might remove [NAME] from the McKay Scholarship Program and enroll [him/her] in public school again, either this year or next year? Would you say it is (READ LIST)? 5. Very likely(Skip to Q.40) 4. Somewhat likely(Skip to Q.40) 3. Neither likely nor unlikely(Skip to Q.40) 2. Somewhat unlikely(Skip to Q.40) 1. Very unlikely(Skip to Q.40) & DK(Skip to Q.40) - Ref(Skip to Q.40) 37. What would you say is the main reason (NAME) no longer participates in the McKay Scholarship Program? 01 = Dissatisfied with private school 02 = Inadequate facilities 03 = Inadequate services/academics at private school 04 = Dissatisfied with private school’s practices 05 = Expelled or counseled out of a private school 06 = Personal problem 07 = Transportation to private school too burdensome 08 = Problems paying for private school 09 = Chose more attractive option (non-public or not specified) 10 = Chose more attractive option (public) 11 = Private school no longer available 12 = Student graduated 95 = None 97 = Other specify 98 = Don’t know 99 = Refused 38. What other reasons are there that (NAME) no longer participates in the McKay Scholarship program? 01 = Dissatisfied with the private school (general) 02 = Inadequate facilities at private school 03 = Inadequate services/academics at private school 04 = Dissatisfied with private school’s practices 05 = Expelled or counseled out of private school 06 = Personal problem 07 = Transportation to private school was too burdensome 08 = Problems paying for private school 09 = Chose more attractive option (non-public or not specified) 10 = Chose more attractive option (public) 11 = Private school no longer available 12 = Student graduated 95 = None 97 = Other specify 98 = Don’t know 99 = Refused 39. Do you think the McKay Scholarship Program should continue to be available to disabled children in Florida or do you think it should be discontinued? 1. Continue to be available 2. Discontinued & DK - Ref 40. What is the highest level of education you completed? (READ LIST IF NEEDED) 1. Less than high school graduate 2. Graduated high school 3. Some college or other school after high school 4. Graduated college 5. Graduate degree 41 In what year were you born? Record Year ____ 42. Were you born in the U.S.? 1. Yes 2. No 43. Are you (READ LIST)? 1. Single, never married 2. Married 3. Divorced or separated 4. Widowed 5. Not married, living with partner - Ref 44. What is the yearly income of your household before taxes?  Is it (READ LIST)? 1. Below $20,000 2. $20,000 to less than $30,000 3. $30,000 to less than $40,000 4. $40,000to less than $60,000 5. $60,000 or more - Ref 45. Is English the main language spoken in the home? 1. Yes (SKIP TO END) 2. No & DK (SKIP TO END) - Ref (SKIP TO END) 46. What is the main language spoken in the home? 1. Spanish 2. Creole 3. Portuguese 4 Other Interviewer record Respondent sex 1 Male 2 Female

EMAIL THIS | PRINTER FRIENDLY CR 38 PDF (334 kb) WHAT THE PRESS SAID SUMMARY: This new study, by Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Jay P. Greene, Ph.D. and Greg Forster, Ph.D., is the first empirical examination of the Florida McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, the nation’s second largest voucher program and the first and only program to offer school vouchers to all special education students in public schools. The study, through telephone surveys of parents of both current and former voucher recipients, shows that participants in the McKay program are being significantly better served by McKay schools compared to the child’s previous public school—regardless of the race, income, or disability level of the voucher recipient. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Executive Summary About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction Background Previous Research Method Results Parental Satisfaction Class Size Services Provided Individual Education Plans Behavior Problems Problems with Other Students Tuition and Fees Above the Scholarship Demographics Difficulty Finding an Acceptable School Transportation Whether the McKay Program Should Continue Conclusion References Appendix A: Tables and Figures Appendix B Appendix C: Survey Methodology